Shares of UnitedHealth were up more than 2.5% in early trade near $67.94 recently.

Also on Thursday the largest U.S. health insurer affirmed its 2013 revenue projections of $122 billion, just below the consensus view of $122.53 billion, and narrowed its full-year EPS outlook to between $5.35 and $5.50 a share, bracketing the Street’s view.